Mark's Travel Journal

This may be a cliché, but I always wanted to discover the wonders of Tahiti and to visit French Polynesia. Who doesn’t, right? I know, but I saved and saved and finally I got the money, found the time and was off to this amazing place. Imagine the photos of Bora Bora that stare at you from magazines and Internet travel sites? Well, the reality is even better. For those that  have the same dream as I do, here are the best things about this amazing place.

Culture of Tahiti

The first thing that comes to mind are the beaches and nature. But the amazing culture of Tahiti somehow gets forgotten. The culture of Tahiti includes the amazing Marae stones. These were used as gathering places, something like temples. There was worshipping, of course, but they had social meaning as well. Visiting them and seeing how naturally they blend into the environment is really something. It seems that everybody knows about the tattoos and since I waited so long to visit Tahiti, it seemed like the appropriate thing to do – so I got a small tattoo while I was there.

Underwater World

If you haven’t been scuba diving, Tahiti is a great place to do it. The only problem is that once you go scuba diving, or surfing, you will be hard pressed to find another place on earth that comes near to that experience. I am a keen surfer and I had the waves of my life there. As for the scuba diving in Tahiti, this is something that you just have to try. It is beyond words.

Islands

Of course, Mor’ea, Huahine and Rangiroa are perfect and you have to visit them, but the one and only Bora Bora will make you feel like you are not on this planet. It is obvious why people choose this destination for their honeymoon. The nature and the beaches seem secluded and very private and the feeling of beauty overcomes you. The turquoise lagoon and rainforests made me feel I was the last person on this world, and in a very good way.

Housing and Food

As for the accommodation and food, you should figure out your budget. I saved a lot because I wanted some freedom to feel and eat whatever I wanted. People can choose between a variety of accommodation in Tahiti, depending on their needs and financial abilities. It can be expensive or cheap, but it’s bound to be wonderful. I stayed at a small family hotel which was very nice and perfectly clean. The owners were extremely friendly and they showed me some of the local dishes. I just couldn’t get enough of the lime marinated tuna, but chicken with taro leaves was pretty close.

The people in Tahiti are friendly and amazing. They smile all the time; are respectful and hospitable. This has definitely been the most amazing trip of my life! And I plan on repeating it as soon as possible, now that I know the wonders of Tahiti and the perfect and unreal Bora Bora islands.

This article was written by Roxana Oliver, a travel enthusiast and an occasional blogger from Sydney, Australia.